Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa has commended the state Independent Electoral Commission for the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s local government election in the state.
Diri gave the commendation, while speaking with journalists shortly after voting alongside his wife, Dr Gloria, at his Kalamaowei Wari Unit 4 Ward 6 in Sampou community, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.
The governor also said reports available to him indicated that the poll was generally peaceful across the state.
The main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) boycotted the election.
Diri expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win all eight chairmanship and 105 councillorship seats in the election.
He said the feat was achievable because PDP was the only party with wide acceptance and vigorously campaigned across the state ahead of the election.
“PDP enjoys the support of the people and judging from the outcome of the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship election, our party will still take the upper hand.
“As you have seen, the voting process was peaceful and seamless and l think if this is the way it is in every other unit and ward, then we expect a peaceful and successful local government election to usher in a new leadership at the third tier of government.
“So far, we are very pleased that there is no report of security breach across the state. At the last security council meeting, l charged the security agencies to be part of this electoral process and to ensure that security of the state was not breached,” Diri said.
On why the APC in the state did not participate in the election and credibility of the process without an opposition, Diri said only the faction led by Dennis Otiotio under the control of Chief Timipre Sylva boycotted the poll and that the party had more than one faction.
He added that the reason for their action was best known to them.
